The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-10-04
NEWS BY WIRE.
ST. Louis Invaded by Thousands
of Peaceful Soldiers.
MARCHING IN A DRENCHING RAIN

U1AhSnlNO IN DhENIAINU MAIN
ST. LOUIS, September 27.-All promises of
fair weather for st. Louis today founded
| on error. and the rain drops on The veterans as
| they pour out Of the cars camps and houses
| The clouds that settled over the city Sunday
| morning have apparently come to stay, and
| the disagreeable dribble, mud and moisture
! laden atmosphere have crushed out ali hope of
a parade today, and shortly after o'clock
| the grand marshal, General =. ID. Grier,
had posted at headquarters and conspicuous
| places an order that the grand reNi'N wound
be postponed until Wednesday morning at 10
| o'clock.
At O'Clock this evening the doors of the
merchants exchange were thrown open for the
soldiers and their friends, who were vending
! their way to the reception rendered by the cti-
Zens of St. Louis, and the immense chamber
was profusely decorated with bunting, flags
and stripes and streamers hanging gra efuliy
from the balconies. a great banner welcomed
| the boys of 61. A fountain in the middle of
| the hall, filled with flowers and surrounded by
tropical plants, dashed jets Of water into spray,
and as the great center piece separated the
| great masses of the people who filled the hall
! long before the hour set for the welcome adj
dresses, a band discoursed stirring airs, while
| the crowd awaited the coming of the speakers.
| At o'clock Mayor Francis, accompanied by
| war governors and other distinguished guests
| entered the hall and took places on the plat
| form. A few minutes later General Sherman
| entered, accompanied by two friends, and sue
ceeded in getting almost on the platform be-
| fore he was discovered by the veterans
Mayor Francis arose, and turning toward
| General Fairchild extended q hearty welcome
| to the Grand Army Of the Republic He
! called the commander-in-chiefs attention to
! the fact that not only comrades-in-arms were
! working tremendously side by side but many
who, quarter of a century ago, were arrayed
| against them in civil strife, and General Fair
| child responded to the cordial greeting by the
assurance that when the invitation was ac-
| ls,1,,
that ST. Louis would do just as she had done,
and there was not moment
when members of the Grand Army
| doubted the hospitabe reception
| they were to receive, or the moment that they
ever thought of not coming here. They had
| come with heart full of respect and love for
| the city and citizens, and they should leave
| with feelings of love and pleasure. To men
| who worethe gray he could say they met them
| with feelings of love and confidence, and ex-
! tend to them the right hand of fellowship.
| The Grand Army did not dig up the Ratchet or
wave the bloody shirt, There never had
| been, from 1861 to the present time, among
| comrades, a thought or feeling of malice to the
south Here tonight were given words of vel
/ come which would ring out through the land,
/ and when the Grand Army goes home they
would leave behind a portion of their hearts.
i As his voice died out, call for General
l Sherman WAS followed by a dozen more and
! then flood of cheers, but they apparently
! fell on deaf ears, for, though looking directly
| over the sea of faces, the general gave no
| sign of response, and Mayor Francis seized the
| opportunity of the lull to introduce ex-Vice
| President Hannibal IIamn. The gray haired
old man was greeted with a storm of applause,
and during short and eloquent address, was
| frequently interrupted by loud and prolonged
| cheers.
| Governor Oglesby, of Illinois, kept up the
enthusiasm by jocular assault upon General
| Sherman for not responding to the repeated
| calls AS he retired the name of Sherman
| ttpN from Ia IN AN1t inn
| greeted "Uncle Billy as he rose to answer to
the calls He said that when he was once sol
| dier he had an old trick of sending brigadier
to a hard place and he thoughtG overnorOgles-
| by good substitute. In abiding to where
| he said he had many friends on the other
| side, he then thought they were in
error. Now he knew they were in error He
| believed that they were becoming convinced
| of this themselves. At any rate they were re-
| turning to thatlold friendly feeling, growing
| over nearer. There some black sheep,
| he knew, but they would not be here long;
| they would soon die off, thank God, and then
| this wonld be a better and stronger nation.
| lie believed this was the strongest nation on
| the earth, for he had concluded that no other
| power would ever have overcome so formidable
| a rebellion and he looked with pride upon the
| flag that commands peace and enforces it.
| In the burst of applause that followed, Gen
| eral Sherman found opportunity to retire, and
as the echo died out the band struck up
| Marching Through Georgia"
ST. LOUIS, Mo-. September 2S.-Rain con-
| tinued to drop down steadily and with in
| creased showers. Everything is drenched, and
| the ardor of citizens and soldiers is dampened.
| Thousands of veterans after awaiting twenty
| four hours in the rain to realize the promises
| of the signal service otfice-fair weather-have
| started for home, vet there are many thou
| sands left, and Grand Marshal Frier issued
orders to prepare for the parade.
The column was formed in ten divisions
shortly before IL o'clock. A body of police
| bpa1n1 thp sion followed bx- & ron
| Marshal GriCr and his aids the eomnander-in-
chief and his staff of one hundred men
| mounted. Next came the war governors and
invited guests i'll close carriages. The men in
procession were almost all equipped with UNI
hrelas or rubber coats, or BOTH and had their
trousers rolled up.
| As the guests in carriages were obliged to
keep the windows closed. but little was seen
| of them. Tho department of Missouri was
| given the right of the line, and they mustered
| several thousand strong General Sherman
| and the reviewing officers stood iii the rain,
which came harder as the procession passed
the reviewing stand. 1t took the Missouri
| division % minutes to pass. The Colored posts
were cheered. Tattered battle flags called
forth enthusiastic cheers. At half-paSt one
| the Sons of Veterans brought up the rear and
| the ranks were broken.
! The encampment opened in due form in the
| entertainment hall of the exposition building
| Mt 80 p. IN. The commander-in-chief. Gen
eral Fairchild. presided. In his annual adj
| borne on the rolls of the order at the last ma
tional encampment as 326 400. The number
reported on June 80, 1887, was 81, GA; actual
| gain in FIVE quarters, 4615T. The increase of
| members in ninety days, ending June 30,
| 1887, in good standing was 1866. In
the year 1850 there were 6O6A members.
| In the last five quarters there have
been mustered into the grand army z, $50.
There were reported June 80 1887, in good
standing, 336, 562 suspended %, 220: by delin-
quent reports, 10,S!G total at last returns borne
upon the rolls, S72674 The amount reported
| expended in charity March, 1856, to March,
1887, inclusive, is S25S9S4. This money was
disbursed to 1867 comrades and their families
and $500 others were assisted, giving 26,6o6
| individuals who had received benefits during
| the year. In conclusion, he said:
In fraternity, charity and loyalty we stand proud
of the fact that there is not now has there ever
been any bitter feeling of hate for those OF fell
loweitizers who once in arms against us, but now
being loyal, have long ago taken their oldtime
places in our hearts, never, We ievouty hope to be
| removed therelrum. We have MT now, nor have
we at any time since the war closed, had any dispo-
sition TO open again the bloody ehasm which once.
unhapply, divided this people. We not only Will
TO ouTSelyeSreopen that dreadful abyss but we will
a a